Summary:

Faults:

Once the radiator water reservoir was stone dry. Topped it up and its been fine ever since.

General Comments:

A good car generally.

I don't like the fact that the engine cannot control itself in traffic. You see the temperature gauge often go sky high and then the fan comes on (very loud) to cool it down. Instead, it would be good if the needle stayed half way and the fan was less raucous.

28th Jan 2005, 02:03

If it's blowing bulbs frequently, the voltage regulator in the alternator may have failed causing the voltage to go way above 12v. Put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and rev the engine to 3000 rpm or so. The voltage should stabilize at a little bit less than 13v. If it is going too high, this will "cook" the battery which will then need changing.

1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 8v LS 5-dr 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Faults:

General Comments:

This was actually my girlfriends car, but I drove it just as much so here goes!

After her knackered old Nova this car was a god send. We bought it with 6k miles on the clock when 3 years old as an ex-motability car, and it was in as new condition and a very good buy.

However, although it proved perfectly reliable, neither she or myself liked it much. These cars are so boring, and the engine should've been retired years ago, for Vauxhall to have made a 75hp eight valve engine on a '97 car just smacked of penny pinching.

It rode well, but handled worse than most of the competition, the interior was very staid, stereo basic and tinny and looked a bit like a Maestro from the back (park them side by side and you'll see what I mean).

It was built well, completely reliable (well, the engine has had 20 years to iron out any problems) and economical.

1997 Vauxhall Astra LS 1.7 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Comfortable and cheap to own

Faults:

I have only had the car a month so nothing up to now.

General Comments:

Compared to my old peugeot 106 1.1 this car is very comfortable and easy to drive I'm not sure if I have the 82bhp or 68bhp model, but it is very quick between 2000rpm and 4000rpm I managed 115mph and it was still very stable and a nice ride. overall I'm happy so far with the car.

1997 Vauxhall Astra GLS Estate 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

My purchase certainly could be classed as a bargain

Faults:

Nothing except at the last major service cam belts were changed and wheels balanced. Certainly a positive comment was made by the garage doing my service as the the condition of the car generally of being immaculate.

General Comments:

I suppose you'd class the car as rather uutilitarian in structure. Generally very reliable little workhorse for want of better terms.

Never failed to start first time, but I'd put that down to a well run in engine. I bought the car with a full service history. The fact that 70000 (!!) miles of it were done in a 6 month period back in 1999 accounts for the high mileage.

The only basic problem encountered is that of windows steaming up. The niggle is that air through the car is only activated by the fan rather than with natural motion of the car.